NI4kids Magazine

NI4kids have asked us to share the link to their online magazine and the information below.

It's an Easter like no other but despite the dramatic changes to our lives, happy family life must go on. That's why we've created a new digital version of Ni4kids Magazine.

Inside, catch up with the thoughts of dads Alex Kane and Alan Meban, Dr Sharon Jones has helpful advice for learning together at home, Dr Marie Hilldiscusses how to maintain positive mental health during isolation, we have a special focus on Autism plus lots of family food suggestions, activities, games, craft ideas, science experiments, books, movies and more!

School Assemblies, Hope for Youth Ministries

Hope for Youth Ministries, a children’s ministry in Northern Ireland has previously been to our school for lunchtime bible clubs.
He is presently doing online assemblies for primary school children. The assemblies are 11am, Monday, Wednesday & Friday. These are screened from the Hope for Youth Ministries YouTube Channel.

Book Trust

BookTrust have launched a new digital hub, www.booktrust.org.uk/hometime which is packed with reading advice, ideas, activities and resources. 

On Monday 6 April they launched a Northern Ireland page, where they feature local authors, illustrators and initiatives. The BookTrust NI facebook page allows them to connect with families and share the work that authors and illustrators post on Facebook.  www.facebook.com/booktrustni

Science and Technology Challenges

Sentinus are going to send out challenges three times per week. Please see information below on the first challenge. If you are interested in doing more of these check out their social media on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Welcome to Day 1 of our Sentinus Challenges! We hope you are as excited as we are 😊

Your first challenge is attached here in a PowerPoint document explaining what the challenge is in a few steps. Once you have completed the challenge you can post the outcome onto social media or you can email your photos/videos to us at info@sentinus.co.uk

When you email your response, can you please let us know if it is okay to post the pictures and your name onto our social media sites, as we would like to share your work.

All challenges will be posted at 11am every Monday, Wednesday and Friday so keep an eye out on social media to complete the challenges. We can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Good Luck!!

Sentinus 

 

Road Safety Competitions

Please see below for information on two Road Safety competitions for when the children are off school.

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WEBSITES

We have compiled a list of useful websites which you can use with your children while they are not in school. The document is under ‘FOR PARENTS' LINKS: SUGGESTED WEBSITES FOR HOME LEARNING.

CANCER FOCUS

Today, Judith from Cancer Focus Northern Ireland came to speak to our children about ways that they can keep their bodies healthy.

Many thanks to everyone who donated money for Cancer Focus. A cheque of £100 will be sent to Cancer Focus NI, who were most grateful for our support.

  • P1 and P2 heard the story of Genevieve the Goat. The main focus was on making healthy food choices. Eat five portions of fruit and vegetables per day, choose to drink milk or water and take lots of exercise.

  • P3 and P4 focused on the importance of taking daily exercise. They were encouraged to look for easy ways to become active.

    P5 were food detectives. They looked at the amount of fat, salt and sugar in different foods. Choosing healthier foods and living healthier lifestyles are good ways of preventing cancer.

  • P6 and P7 were taught about the harmful effects smoking can have on the body.

Coronavius

As this situation changes rapidly please continue to check the Public Health Agency website for the most current recommendations.

ARCHERY

P4 - P7 have been enjoying Archery in their after school sports sessions.

SPACE DOME

We were delighted to receive a grant from British Science Association which enabled us to bring staff from the Armagh Planetarium with their Space Dome. The visit happened yesterday 12th March. Each class got the opportunity to enter the Space Dome and go on a journey through the cosmos. Images were projected onto the roof of the dome and the Education Team guided the children to planets such as Saturn and Mars. As space travellers, they got to land on the moon and the children got lots of information about the first lunar landing in 1969. They also saw how the different star formations are in the shapes of animals. Some parents visited the dome after school. A huge thanks to the two girls from Armagh Planetarium for bringing the dome to school.

FAIRTRADE ASSEMBLY

As the final part of their topic work on ‘Fairtrade’, P6 and P7 took assembly on Wednesday 11th March.

The children told the rest of the school how and why Fairtrade was started. They also encouraged us to buy Fairtrade products. When we buy Fairtrade products, we are supporting the communities producing goods like coffee, chocolate and bananas. This means that workers are getting a fair wage, children are not being used as child labour and the communities have more money for food, health care, medicines and schools etc.

Earlier in the week Mrs Laura Calderwood helped the P6 and 7 children to make Krispie buns, using Fairtrade chocolate and Krispies. As a special treat, the children were able to buy Krispie buns or Fairtrade bananas for their break yesterday.

FAIRTRADE BAKE-OFF P6 AND P7

P6 and P7 have been learning all about Fairtrade in their World Around us Topic. Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, as part of ‘Fairtrade Fortnight’, are hosting a Fairtrade Bake-Off for P6 pupils, to be held on Friday 6th March. All the bakes have to be made using Fairtrade ingredients. Mrs Wright decided to have a Bake-Off for any P6 and P7 pupils who wanted to have a go. As you can see from the pictures, we had some delicious cakes and buns, which were enjoyed by both pupils and staff.

The final of the competition is for P6 pupils. Susanna and Demi were chosen to represent our school at the final.

FAIRTRADE BAKE-OFF 2020

Today, 6th March, Susanna and Demi, who were the winners of the P6 class Fairtrade Bake-Off, went to the Bake-Off final, which was held in the Council Headquarters in Coleraine. The children had to use Fairtrade ingredients in their ‘bakes’. There were lots of really lovely entries. Susanna had baked Chocolate Brownies and Demi had Krispies buns, both of which were delicious. Although they did not win, the judges were really impressed by their bakes and their knowledge of Fairtrade products.

At the final, Luis who is a Fairtrade representative from a Colombian Fairtrade Coffee Cooperative, spoke to the children about Fairtrade and the benefits to their local community.

CELEBRATING WORLD BOOK DAY

On Thursday 5th March, we had a special World Book Day celebration. The children all came to school wearing their pyjamas, and some of the younger children brought their teddy bears to school. The P6 and P7 children brought bedtime story books, and they read these to P1 and P2 children and also the children from playgroup. Throughout the day, P1 and P2 had activities based on books, with special emphasis on the book ‘Hairy Maclary’. P3 and P4 had a book swap and a team book quiz as well as making Pictograms of their favourite books. They also told the rest of the class about their favourite book. P5 had various class activities and they did their ‘Daily Mile’ wearing their pyjamas.

A special thanks to Mrs Laura Calderwood who helped the children to decorate Fairy cakes, which were kindly donated by Tesco Ballymoney.

PRIMARY STEM CHALLENGE 2020

Today, Ryan, Tom and Alfie went to the Primary STEM Challenge 2020 which was held in Ballymena. The challenge for the teams was -

  • Build a lighthouse which will warn local shipping of the danger of rocks close by. The lighthouse must have a light which is capable of being switched on and off.

The boys had to design the lighthouse and then build it using only card and masking tape. As you can see they did an excellent job.

Coronavirus

The following links give you some more information that the Public Heath Agency have produced for schools to share with regard to the Coronavirus. In summary, the importance of good hand washing and using a handkerchief for coughs and sneezes, which is then disposed of in a bin immediately, is emphasised.

Advice on COVID-19 for places of Education

Giant Sneezes Poster - What’s in a sneeze?

Horrid Hands - The importance of good hand washing.

AFTER SCHOOL SPORTS

A sports coach from Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council is coming into school to provide coaching for Kurling, Archery, Boccia and Table Tennis for children in P4 - P7. The first session, which was on Wednesday, was Table Tennis.

Safeguarding App

The Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (NI) has relaunched their safeguarding app for parents, carers and professionals. This is a very useful tool to have on your phone, giving instant access to local and regional support services, information on a range of safeguarding issues, access to the regional child protection policy and procedures, and a rang of resources.

The App provides regular ongoing  up-dates and short videos on new, emerging themes and risks in the on-line world. It also provides access to Regional Policy and Procedure.

The free App is available in the APP Store for IOS and Android.

INTERNET SAFETY

Protecting our children on line is fast becoming one of the biggest issues facing parents and guardians, in this ever changing age of technology. Dr Helen Dixon, Head of Creative and Innovative learning, NRC Ballymena, came to school on 24th January to give our P4 - P7 children lots of information about keeping safe online.

Since then, the children have been preparing questions on Internet Safety for parents and friends, in the form of a ‘Who wants to Be a Millionaire Quiz’. At a special parents’ evening, the children presented their quiz, and then Dr Dixon gave parents useful information on ‘Keeping your Children Safe Online’. Probably the most important message from the evening would be

TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN AND BE AWARE OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING ONLINE

DON’T RELY ON AN ‘APP’ TO PARENT YOUR CHILDREN..

This can be summarised by using the letters of the word TEAM

  • Talk regularly

  • Explore together

  • Agree rules

  • Manage settings

Thanks to everyone who worked really hard to make this a very useful evening.